Tom Waterhouse’s Mosman mansion rebuild determined in court after resident opposition

Plans by bookmaker Tom Waterhouse to build a mansion directly onto Balmoral Beach have been settled in court after residents raised concerns over the loss of harbour views and ‘food smells’ from a pizza oven.

Multimillion-dollar plans for a mansion fronting directly onto Balmoral Beach have been settled in court after opposition from residents concerned over the loss of harbour views.

Aussie bookmaker Tom Waterhouse and his wife Hoda have been given the green light to knock down their Wyargine St home to make way for a new two-storey mansion with six bedrooms, a beach terrace and a swimming pool.

The $4 million development was recently settled in the Land and Environment Court after it was deemed refused by Mosman Council earlier this year.

The decision comes after several neighbours lodged objections to the plans, centred on the bulk and scale of the building, overshadowing and potential impacts on beach views.

Neighbour Angela Bambach argued the proposed development was “inappropriate for the site and completely at odds with the street and beachscape”.

A concept plan of the development.

“In fact it looks more like it belongs on the French Riviera than Balmoral Beach,” she said in a submission.

Resident Eve Bagnall said “there was currently only one small glimpse of water and Balmoral Beach (and) this one glimpse will be completely obliterated by this development”.

A concept plans of the development from street level.

Tom Waterhouse has owned the home since 2014.

There were also concerns over the inclusion of a pizza oven and chimney included in development plans which some neighbours feared could send food smells waiting into their properties.

Plans to the council stated the proposal had been designed with neighbours in mind, adding it would “suit the needs of a young family while still being sensitive to the existing site and neighbouring properties”.

“The building has been designed to maintain neighbours’ and local amenity and contribute positively to the streetscape and local character,” the plans stated.

“As such, the proposal does not unreasonably impact on existing views across the site from surrounding development and the public domain.”

An artist’s impression of the development

The Land and Environment Court said it was satisfied the proposal was of a “bulk and scale” that was acceptable in the low density residential zone.

Court commissioner Susan O’Neill approved the development on 93 conditions, including removing the inclusion of planned chimney stacks from the pizza oven to reduce view impacts.

The development comes after Mr Waterhouse, bookmaker and CEO of venture capital fund Waterhouse VC who is the son of legendary horse trainer Gai Waterhouse, purchased the property for $13 million in 2014.

The redevelopment was designed by architectural firm Luigi Rosselli, which took the case to court.